Warriors vs. Clippers Predictions, Odds, Preview

VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert

6 minute read

Mar. 11, 2021

by Jonathan Willis
NBA Expert
VegasInsider.com

The Los Angeles Clippers are ready to get back on the court after a week off for the All-Star Break. They lost six of their last nine before the break and three straight games to end the first half of the season on a sour note.

Still, they are in fourth place in the Western Conference, and that has the Clips in a lot better position than the Golden State Warriors over the second half of the season. The Warriors are currently a half-game behind the Dallas Mavericks for the No. 8 seed.

Warriors vs. Clippers Betting Resources

Matchup: Western Conference
Expert Picks: Vegas Insiders
Venue: Staples Center
Location: Los Angeles, California
Date: Thursday, Mar. 11, 2021
Time: 10:00 p.m. ET
TV: TNT
Bet: BetMGM | betrivers |FanDuel |bet365 |DraftKings |Best Sportsbooks

Betting Odds - Warriors vs. Clippers

Line Movements

Subject to Change

Spread: Clippers -7
Money-Line: L.A. -280, Golden State +240
Total: 231

The Clippers and Warriors split a pair of games earlier this season at the Chase Center in San Francisco. (AP)

Warriors vs. Clippers Current Form-Last Game

This will be the third meeting between these Pacific Division rivals and first in Los Angeles. Both previous games were in the Bay Area. The first game between these teams ended in a 108-101 Clippers’ win as Stephen Curry had a rough night shooting. Curry went 5-17 from the field and the Warriors could only make 26.7 percent of their threes.

Golden State fared better in the second game with Curry playing much better in a 115-105 win. This year’s 3-Point Contest winner went 13 of 24 from the floor for a game-high 38 points and tacked on 11 assists.

The Clippers put a stop to Utah’s winning streak three weeks ago, but it’s been downhill for the team since that point. They fell to Brooklyn in a potential NBA Finals preview, and then they were hammered on the road by Memphis later in the week.

The last week of the first half of the season was the nadir for this team though. The Clippers dropped three games in a row for the first time this season with losses to the Bucks, Celtics, and Wizards.

Paul George didn’t play in last Thursday’s 119-117 loss to Washington. The Clippers were hoping they could win without him, but Nicolas Batum and Serge Ibaka were continually picked on underneath. Batum and Ibaka combined to go 2-12 from the floor and both players finished with a -20+ point differential.

Golden State also lost three straight games before the All-Star Break. The Warriors won three consecutive games prior to that slump with wins over the Knicks, Pacers, and Hornets, but they did not fare as well on their short road trip against Western Conference opponents. They lost to the Lakers and Suns by double digits, and they were edged by two points in Portland.

Both Curry and Kelly Oubre, Jr. sat out of last Thursday’s 120-98 loss to Phoenix. Golden State could only muster 98 points without its top two guards, and the Warriors were outrebounded by 12 boards. Seven Phoenix players ended up with double digits in points in the win.

Warriors vs. Clippers Head-to-Head

Jan. 8, 2021 - Warriors 115 vs. Clippers 105, Golden State +6.5, Under 229.5
Jan. 6, 2021 - Clippers 108 at Warriors 101, L.A. -5, Under 231

(SU-Straight Up, ATS - Against the Spread, OU - Over-Under)

Golden State Warriors Betting Outlook

Inside the Stats (2020-2021)

Overall: 19-18 SU, 18-19 ATS, 15-22 OU
Road: 7-12 SU, 7-12 ATS, 7-12 OU

Curry could pass Ray Allen as the NBA’s career three-point leader next season. He is still shooting the lights out at a prodigious rate, and he is one of the league’s leading scorers at 29.7 PPG.

Curry is knocking down 41.1 percent of his triples as the best perimeter shooter in the NBA, and he is showing no signs of decline after suffering a serious injury last season. His 6.3 APG are the second-most on the team too.

Andrew Wiggins is the second leading scorer on the team with 17.0 PPG. Wiggins has underwhelmed for a No. 1 overall pick, but he has played well after receiving a change of scenery following his trade from Minnesota last season. He is making 46.3 percent of his field goals and 35.1 percent of his threes.

Rookie James Wiseman was sidelined for 11 games due to injury. However, he has looked like one of the top rookies of this class and worth the No. 2 overall pick. Wiseman is averaging 11.8 PPG and 5.9 RPG, and he has showed opponents he can stretch the floor with his perimeter game.

Although he brings a lot to the team, Draymond Green’s inability to shoot hamstrings the Warriors. Green is averaging 8.6 APG and 6.1 RPG, and he is the best defender on the roster. However, he is making 39.1 percent of his field goals and 23.7 percent of his threes.

L.A. Clippers Betting Outlook

Inside the Stats (2020-2021)

Overall: 24-14 SU, 20-18 ATS, 22-15-1 OU
Home: 12-6 SU, 9-9 ATS, 10-7-1 OU

Kawhi Leonard continues to play like a superstar. He is the leader of the Clippers, filling the stat sheet with 26.6 PPG, 6.3 RPG, and 4.9 APG. Leonard is a very efficient shooter, close to the hallowed 50/40/90 ratio this season, and he is also playing great defense. He leads the team in steals (1.5 SPG), and there might not be a better lockdown on-ball defender in the league.

George wasn’t available the last time the Clippers took the court, but he will be on the floor this Thursday. Like Leonard, George is close to the 50/40/90 stat line, knocking down 49.9 percent of his field goals, 45 percent of his three-pointers, and 88.8 percent of his free throws. He is also contributing in other areas with 6.1 RPG and 5.4 APG, making this his most efficient season in his 11-year NBA career.

The Clips have a very good bench with Lou Williams, Marcus Morris Sr., and Ivica Zubac in reserve. Williams is a three-time NBA Sixth Man of the Year, and although he has struggled this season, he is still one of the best players at coming out of the cold to create his own shot. Morris is making 46.4 percent of his triples, while Zubac is a very efficient rebounder when head coach Tyronn Lue goes big.

Ibaka has had a nice season although he is in his early 30s, and Batum is playing much better now that he isn’t the focal point of the offense like he was in Charlotte. Batum is making over 40 percent of his threes for just the second time in his 13-year career.

Key Injuries

Golden State Warriors

PF Draymond Green: Ankle - Probable
SF Kelly Oubre, Jr.: Wrist - Questionable
SG Klay Thompson: Achilles - Out

L.A. Clippers

SG Paul George: Dizziness - Questionable
PF Marcus Morris: Concussion - Questionable
PF Patrick Patterson: Personal - Questionable